T - Birds 1st XV Championship SE Div 2

Match Reports 2009/10

Latest games first:

Sunday Mar 21st 2010: (scroll down for photos)

T-Birds                       27

Rosslyn Park               5

As the end of the Season approaches Thurrock T-Birds welcomed Rosslyn Park to Oakfield for the penultimate game of the Season, needing a bonus point to remain in contention at the top of the table.

Park started the season slowly, but with the return of key players their recent results have improved and Tees knew this would be no pushover.  Tees attacked from the off and playing phase after phase, spent the whole of the first 10 minutes in the Rosslyn Park half.  Having been held up from a quick tap, Tammy Nichols picked up from the scrum at No8 and got the ball wide to Dannie Harriss coming in off her wing.  Touching down on 11 minutes she cemented her place as top scorer for the season with her 15^th try.  Park now really turned it on and threw themselves at the T-Birds.  They steadied their scrum and lineout and out-muscled Tees at the ruck.  After 20 minutes of pressure they got their reward when their Fly Half popped through a hole in the defence to score, the half finishing 5-5.

T-Birds received the restart and immediately showed their determination despite making 20 meters and losing the ball, their aggressive defence drove Park back to their own 22 forcing error after error.  Re-gathering possession, a series of driven scrums and penalties finally paid off with a try for Kat Emerson.  10-5.  Sensing weakness, Tees again attacked from the off and applied another 10 minutes of relentless pressure.  With the scrum now dominant T-Birds took the scrum option at a 5m penalty and pushed the Park backwards over the try line, with Scrum Half Amy Radford touching down.  The conversion hit the post and crept over, but only one touch judge raised the flag and the kick was disallowed.  15-5.

Having had a really good 15 minutes, Tees suddenly went flat and Park picked up the pace and the next 25 minutes were even stevens, both sides nearly scoring, only to be cut down with last ditch tackles as the defences dominated it.  It looked as though the Bonus Point and league title were gone.  With 40 minutes on the clock Park over-threw a lineout and T-Birds pack broke through only to be stopped just short.  Recycling and attacking from sideline to sideline Tees finally stretched the defence  and Captain Mercedes Foy dropped over the line.  This time Laura Kavanagh’s conversion was clean for 22-5.

Incredibly, with 43 minutes played, T-Birds received the restart and gave it one last lash.  Attacking up the right, Kerry Jacks who had been stopped just short at least 3 times, finally made it over the line to secure the bonus point with the 5^th try.  27-5.

The maths are still too close to call and will rely entirely on bonus points in other games.

T-Birds now finish the Season with a last home game at Oakfield, Blackheath on 28th March which still might just be the title decider.  

   

   

Sunday Mar 7th 2010:

Wasps ll       10

T-Birds        10

 

With the season drawing to a close but still all to play for, the T-Birds made the horrible journey round the length of the North Circular to Acton and Wasps to play their Seconds in what was probably the Title decider.  Winner take all.  Wasps will always be exceptionally well organised but the strength of the second team always depends on if and where the First Team are playing in the Premiership.  This time their Full Back had been capped 50 times for England .

The T-Birds started brightly and initially looked the better team.  The pack were dominant in Scrum and Lineout, but due mainly to the very young age and lack of experience at this level, were following the recent pattern of not taking that dominance through to open play.  Taking a scrum against the head on half way, T-Birds attacked wide and right before going into touch.  Then taking the lineout against the throw, Dannie Harris was put away to attack the same channel only to be cut down 10 meters short of the line.  This time good rucking gave quick ball and the T-Birds backline were unstoppable with Kerry Jacks crashing over for her first T-Birds try.  10 minutes, 0-5.  The rest of the first half was relatively uneventful, both sides having good periods of pressure, but both defences holding well with no further scores.

The Wasps team talk at half time really must have been something else.  A missed tackle in midfield let them set up camp on the T-Birds’ line and despite desperate defence and a couple of turnovers, Tees just could not get the ball away.  Finally a quick tap from a dubious penalty let their big second row crash over the line.  5 minutes into the half and 5-5.

The next 20 minutes were a repeat of the first half war of attrition.  Plenty of attacks and pressure from both sides matched by resolute defence with maybe T-Birds just shading it and it looked like the next score would win the game.  Then T-Birds’ pack woke up.  Driving a maul over 30 meters they set up stall in the Wasps’ 22 and applied a long period of pressure.  Penalty followed penalty but Wasps just managed to keep T-Birds away from the line.  Finally from another dominant scrum, Tammy Nichols picked up at No 8 and moved the ball wide to Dannie Harris whose speed carried her over in the corner.  5-10 with 15 minutes to go and the game looked won.

With title hopes fading Wasps really stepped up a gear in the dying seconds of normal time they again got through the T-Birds’ midfield and were awarded a penalty on the 5 meter line in the left corner.  The first attack was cut down just in front of the posts, but quick ball from the ruck allowed their second row to claim her brace in the right corner.  42 minutes on the clock and 10-10.

With the Ref calling 3 minutes T-Birds gave it everything, attacking from the kick off they were awarded a penalty 30 meters out in front of the posts.  Laura Kavanagh's kick was straight but crucially just short and Wasps cleared the ball to touch.  With time still not up T-Birds gave it one last attack, Dannie Harris again getting away down the right flank only to be put into touch just short.  The final whistle and a 10-10 draw did nothing for the title hopes of either team.  The maths are too close to call and will rely entirely on bonus points in other games.

T-Birds now finish the Season with 2 home games at Oakfield -  Rosslyn Park on 21st March and Blackheath again on 28th March which still might just be the title decider.

Sunday Feb 21st 2010:

Blackheath   15

T-Birds          12

 

With injuries, illness and a car crash on the way to the meet, it was a bare 16 T-Birds who travelled to a huge game at one of the oldest names in Rugby , Blackheath.  The poor pitch and terrible weather conditions meant that this would never be a classic.  Wet, muddy and freezing cold do not lend themselves to the running rugby that the T-Birds do so well.

 

The first 20 minutes were fairly even, both sides spending long periods camped on the other’s line, but neither able to score. Even though the Thurrock pack quickly got on top in the set piece, the Blackheath pack were supreme in the loose.  Blackheath finally broke the deadlock with a penalty kick to lead 3-0.

As usual, the T’s backline looked dangerous but the Blackheath defence were up to the job and regularly pushed the final runner into touch.  Following a penalty and a “held up over the line”, despite being driven back by the T’s pack, the Blackheath 8 picked up from the base of the 5 meter scrum.  Although quickly tackled by Thurrock 9 Radford, Blackheath ran quick ball from the ruck to score the first try of the day.  Unconverted, they led 8-0 going to half time.

 

T-Birds pressed hard at the start of the second half, but the well organised and committed Blackheath defence constantly cut them down short of the try line.  10 minutes in, T’s centre, Charlie West was laid low from a neck injury and the reorganisation required seemed to sap the team’s strength.  Even when the Blackheath 7 was given 10 minutes rest for a late tackle T-Birds could not seem to find the wherewithal to press home their advantage.  Still all the game was in Blackheath’s half but Blackheath were kicking better and winning the breakdown area and still T-Birds attacked.  30 minutes into the half, in only Blackheath’s second proper foray into Thurrock ’s territory, defending centre Becky Prosser saw a lazy pass coming and grabbed the intercept.  Running from her own 22 with Blackheath in hot pursuit, she touched down under the posts.  The conversion from Laura Kavanagh brought the score to 8-7.

Almost from the kick off, Blackheath attacked and in a final move when 2 Thurrock defenders collided, they were under the posts to push the gap back out to 15-7.

 

Blackheath were now on top and pressed into Thurrock ’s territory.  Awarded a penalty on the 22 it looked all over, but the kick hit the crossbar still leaving T-Birds 8 points short.   With less than 10 minutes to go, T-Birds were down to 14 with a player in the bin and Blackheath pressed hard for the decisive score, camped out in Thurrock ’s 22, play switching from side to side.  Suddenly Becky Prosser pounced on a second lazy pass and again ran the length of the pitch to score, this time in the corner.  With no conversion, the score stood at 15-12.   Blackheath again pushed hard from the kickoff and T-Birds were quickly down to 13 losing another player to injury and with no subs left.  This seemed to suddenly galvanise Thurrock who attacked turnover ball in the dying seconds and it was Blackheath who gratefully kicked to touch and end the game.

 

This result now throws the league wide open, with any one of 4 teams capable of winning, this losing bonus point might still be vital.   Away to Wasps II on the 7th March will be a really tough game.

T-Birds then finish the Season with 2 home games at Oakfield -   Rosslyn Park on 21st March and Blackheath again on 28th March which might just be the title decider.

Sunday Feb 14th 2010:

T-Birds                 59

Romford & GP      0

Bottom of the table Romford and Gidea Park came to Oakfield and duly fulfilled their expected role as "Fall Guys" to a T-Birds team desperate for points in their pursuit of a third successive league title.   However, even having scored 11 tries, the T-Birds will look at this as a “could have done better” performance. With a decent crowd on the sidelines following a VP lunch, Romford started brightly enough, their pack obviously "up for it", knowing from previous experience that the T-Birds would quickly exploit any sign of weakness.   Even with little ball, the Thurrock back line always looked ominous, the pressure defence causing panic in Romford's midfield and with pace everywhere in attack.   Sure enough after a fairly even 10 minutes, Thurrock shipped clean fast ball wide for Winger and top scorer Dannie Harris to take on the Full Back.  Very few players can live with her pace, and sure enough she was under the posts in 12 minutes.

Romford immediately tried to defend with more width, but that only allowed centre Becky Prosser to crash through the midfield and offload in the tackle 10 m out to scorer Charlie West only 3 minutes later.  Now in a quandary over how to defend and with a touch of panic creeping in to Romford's defence Thurrock created a “team try”.  From a midfield scrum, a move straight off the training park took the ball to the left touchline and recycling the ball quickly it went right through the entire backline’s hands until Dannie Harris got away again to touch down in the corner.   18 minutes and 17-0.
At this point and visibly on top T-Birds began to break down as a team, with everyone wanting a chance to score.
Overlaps were spurned, one contact too many was taken and poor passes given at the wrong time were dropped.
Still Sally Appleton set off on a mazy run from a ruck and again with the ball going through 3 sets of hands,  Dannie Harris  got away on the 25 minute mark for her hat trick and 22-0.

Unfortunately during this scoring move, one of the Romford players tripped over two other players on the ground, resulting in a nasty injury which required the attendance of a paramedic and then an ambulance. Initially the teams retired to the changing rooms and then eventually the game was switched to the far pitch after a delay of nearly 20 minutes. By this time, a cold drizzle was falling and this combined with the break and loss of concentration on both sides led to a very fragmented game with neither side managing to impose much structure and dropped balls abounded.   T-Birds finally got their organisation sorted out again and Cherelle Alphonse, who had made several fine breakaways, claimed the only forward try of the day and other winger Amy Bird also got over the try line before halftime for a score of 32-0.

Restarting back on the original pitch there was deadlock for 15 minutes or so, Romford initially defending gamely.  However, a series of penalties and a good catch and drive twice took Romford nearly to the try line, only to be rebuffed by the resolute Thurrock defence..   25 minutes in, T-Birds’ fullback Sally Appleton collected a loose kick and attacked, initially splitting the defence.  She was caught inches short of the line and crashed backwards into the post, the padding preventing injury, and presenting the ball nicely for Dannie Harris following up to pick up and drop over the line for her 4th try of the day,  Converted by Laura Kavanagh for 39-0.

Romford pressed again and winning a penalty on Thurrock ’s 22, elected to kick for points, but missed.  T-Birds now appeared more settled and structured and began to play something more like their usual game.  The pack was now visibly on top in both the set piece and loose and prop Charlotte Micalleff constantly stealing the ball in contact.   The Romford defence had no answers and Kat Emerson returning from injury on the wing for Amy Bird quickly claimed a brace of tries on the blind side for 49-0.   Romford never stopped defending and their heads never dropped but the now rampant T-Birds’ backline ran riot, running everything, even from behind their own line.  From a reset scrum on the centre spot another training park move got Sally Appleton away and between the posts on 32 minutes.   Then in another fine team move, set up by Kat Emerson, carried on by Becky Prosser, who then put Lauren Kidd away for a late try.   Final score 59-0.

Forward of the Match was Captain Mercedes Foy who also won the boat race and Back of the match Scrum Half Amy “Radders” Radford

With other results going Thurrock 's way, their destiny and the League title is again in their own hands, every other team having already lost 2 games and T-Birds only one.  If they remain unbeaten in the remaining 4 games they will win the League.

T-Birds resume with 2 really tough games which will probably decide the destination of the title.
Next week, 21st Feb, Away to Blackheath and Away to Wasps II on the 7th March.
T-Birds then finish the Season with 2 home games at Oakfield; Rosslyn Park on 21st March and Blackheath again on 28th March.

Sunday Jan 24th 2010:

Quins             16

T-Birds          22

 

Having surrendered a 17 point lead to draw 17-17 at home back in November, an apprehensive T-Birds side travelled to Roehampton Vale to meet Top of the Table Harlequins.

With almost no training since early December and compounded with traffic problems, a late arrival and almost no warm up, this very young and inexperienced Thurrock  side faced up to the league leaders with some trepidation.

The referee set his stall out early and pinged T-Birds at the first tackle for not rolling away but the normal early Thurrock pressure kept Quins in their own half for the first 5 minutes.

With T-Birds attacking, the ref kept his standards high and sin binned a Quins player for a nasty and obvious stamp.  Knowing that these 10 minutes could be vital, T-Birds let loose.

A Thurrock knock on gave  Quins a scrum inside their own 22 but powerfully pushing round past 90 degrees Thurrock claimed the turnover.  Moving the ball wide from the scrum, T-Birds found winger Dannie Harris waiting who then skinned her opposite number to dive in at the corner.  The conversion was  missed but 0-5 after 6 minutes was a fine start.

Kat Emerson at 10 was now finding space and only a few minutes later again ran a move to find space out wide.  Lauren Kidd entering the line from Full Back again found a corner to touch down. 9 minutes 0-10.

With the Quins’ backs now having to defend wider, Kat Emerson popped out of the next breakdown with the ball, stepped the full back and touched down under the posts, 4 Thurrock players in support but no defenders in sight.  11 minutes played, the score 0-17.

Quins were now desperate for points and pushed hard into T-Birds territory and at 15 minutes from the Thurrock backs offside, they kicked the resulting penalty for 3-17.

Points on the board raised Quins’ spirits and again they drove into kicking range to await T’s inexperienced backs straying offside and again conceding 3 points.  19 minutes 6-17.

Quins now kept the ball for a period of sustained pressure and started to get on top.  Despite resolute defence from the -Birds, Quins finally broached the try line on 29 minutes, bringing the score to 11-17 where it remained until half time.

Within a few minutes of the restart, the ref evened things up with a very soft Yellow card and sin bin for T-Birds Jenny Mountjoy, admittedly “in at the side”, but a long way out and not an obvious scoring opportunity.

Quins then exploited the resulting space to score in the corner bringing the score to a finely balanced 16-17.   Despite the Sin bin lasting 16 minutes, Quins were unable to convert pressure into more points.

For the next 20 minutes the game swung back and forth. Incessant pressure from Quins who were now bossing the breakdown, but every time the Thurrock backs saw the ball they looked likely to score, last ditch tackles denying Ts several times.

With 39 minutes played, T-Birds finally completed another backs move with Lauren Kidd again crossing the whitewash for her brace.  The conversion was missed, but 16-22 meant that a try alone would not be enough for Quins who kept up the pressure until the final whistle.

Lauren Kidd was player of the match for her brace of tries.

This result throws the league wide open, T-Birds in 3^rd place but with games in hand on those above.

Next home game is local rivals Romford and Gidea Park , with T-Birds hoping for a St Valentine’s Day massacre on the 14th of February.

The game will be preceded with a VPs Dinner; tickets from the club at £15 or please contact Mrs Owls.

 

Sunday Dec 13th:

Aylesford     0

T-Birds      17

With only 16 players in the whole squad fit and available, it was a very young T-Bird squad who travelled to Aylesford in Kent with 2 players making their First Team debut.  Played on a pitch resembling a marsh, this game proved that not only can the T-Birds play fantastic rugby when the conditions allow, but that they can dig in and dog out a win against all the odds.  Since Aylesford denied T-Birds promotion 3 seasons ago, an intense but reasonably friendly rivalry has existed between the 2 teams which always adds a bit of spice to these fixtures.

Starting in cold drizzle, the conditions and pitch were never going to allow display rugby, so keeping it tight from the off, the home side constantly sent their huge prop crashing through the midfield, only a fine display of tackling by Tees keeping her at bay.  Tees were driven back into their own half almost from the kick off and stayed there with only a couple of breakaways until half time.  Even with little possession, T-Birds were constantly looking to attack but the conditions constantly thwarted their efforts.  With the penalty count against them and prop Charlotte Micaleff in the bin for the last ten minutes of the first half, 14 woman T-Birds put up a  magnificent defensive performance to deny Aylesford again and again, sometimes just inches short of the try line.  The half time score 0-0.

In the second half Kat Emerson at 10, returning from a year out and a knee reconstruction, began to grow in confidence.  Her movement in midfield pulling the defence about and her looping runs creating overlaps against an already stretched defence.  With only 5 minutes gone the ball reached winger Sally Appleton on the left side.  Beating her opposite winger and the Full Back she scraped into the corner and with the Aylesford touch judge miles behind play the referee awarded a hotly disputed try.

T-Birds' fine pack were visibly on top now and looking to make the game safe.  Despite losing stalwart Sue Clive from the Centre with a broken finger T-Birds continued to press and with gaps starting to appear regularly Sally Appleton seized her second chance for a clear undisputed second try in 25 minutes.  Replacement Jade Nelson adding the conversion for 0-12.  With their tails up and Aylesford heads briefly down, T-Birds went for the jugular from the kickoff and the other winger Dannie Harriss got in on the act by touching down in only a minute. 0-17  With the game won but Aylesford playing for pride in front of a noisy home crowd, T-Birds desperate to keep a clean sheet again dug in and defended their line heroically for the last 15 minutes.

Forward of the match Veronica Ely.  Back of the match Kat Emerson.

T-Birds are second in the table and now have a mid season break until they welcome Rosslyn Park to Oakfield on January 10th.

Sunday Nov 29th:

Chelmsford            7

T-Birds 2nd XV    15

This was only the second game that the T-birds 2nd team had played and after losing to Thames last week, they were determined to come away on top.
We turned up at  Chelmsford with a full 15 players. After many new faces and introductions, the T-birds knew it would be a hard game as Chelmsford were sitting 2nd in the table. The heavens opened from the start to finish of the game, but neither team let the weather phase them and carried on with their patterns and plays. Just after half time the referee wanted to call the game off as he felt it was too dangerous. However, both teams wanted to continue in the good spirit of the game.
Tees broke the try line 3 times from hard worked ball by the forwards and some quick hands by the backs.  Chelmsford fought hard to get a converted try. Final score 15-7 to the T-Birds 2nds and their first win together as a team.

Back of the match was newby Rebecca Prosser and the forward of the match was Kelly Allen, who had her first game back for 3 years.

Sunday Nov 22nd:

T-Birds        0

Wasps         5

Having been 2 seasons unbeaten in league rugby the T-Birds have been the “must win” game for every other team in Championship South East 2, but following last week’s draw against Harlequins,  Wasps’ Seconds really fancied their chances of an upset at Oakfield.  I am often asked if ladies really play “full contact”  Rugby and the last 2 weeks have produced two shuddering physical contests with bodies laid well and truly in the line.

For the second time in succession, the T-Birds will again look back on this as a game they could and probably should have won.  Playing their physical brand of enterprising rugby, the Ts pressed hard from the off and the Wasps did not leave their own half for nearly 20 minutes.  Apart from a few clearing kicks and fewer running breaks the T-Birds pushed and pushed for a score, being only denied by last ditch tackles and resolute defence.  The Wasps’ excellent scrum half constantly disrupting and negating the power of the T-Birds’ scrum.  Nearing the break, with Ts camped on the 5 metre line and Wasps conceding 7 penalties in quick succession the ref finally carded a Wasp.  T-Birds took the scrum and drove for the line but despite the back row breaking early and disrupting, the ref refused the penalty try and blew up for half time.

The first ten minutes of the second half followed the pattern of the first, with T-Birds having the lion’s share of possession and territory, but then Wasps made changes.  Amongst others entering the fray was Welsh international Bethan Walsh coming on at 12.  As in last year’s away game she completely changed the shape and intentions of the Wasps’ back line and they suddenly looked dangerous;T-Birds’ normally excellent defence had no answer to her pace and movement.  Within 5 minutes, she had engineered a gap for Wasps to score, 0-5.  The home team dug in and tackled their hearts out but Wasps now threatened constantly but it still remained a very even contest.  T-Birds had their own chances and were cut down just short of the line on several occasions.

T-Birds remain second to Harlequins with the game in hand now not enough to pull level.

Back of the match Sally Appleton, forward of the match Veronica Ely

To mark a point of history, the T-Birds’ second team finally made their league debut sadly losing to local rivals Thames Toucanettes 17-39.

The second team are desperate for more players, anyone over 18 welcome, no previous knowledge required.

Training Wednesday nights 7.30; just turn up and you will be made welcome.

Sunday Nov 8th:

T-Birds               17

Harlequins        17

 

For the neutral observer, this must have been a fine game to watch.  Physical and hotly contested in all departments, the T-Birds will still look back on this draw as points lost against top of the table Harlequins.  With KO delayed 15 minutes due to a car breakdown and lack of players, Thurrock's warm up was severely disrupted and may well have resulted in the slow start.

T-Birds kicked off into the wind and Harlequins drove back remorselessly into Thurrock ’s half and stayed there for the next 15 minutes.  Physical and totally committed at the ruck, Quins were first to the loose ball and justifiably on top.  Twice T-Birds turned ball over unexpectedly and instead of kicking for territory, attacked fast and wide only to spurn the final overlap and go into contact.  Finally Thurrock regrouped and applied their own pressure and with the help of a series of penalties worked their way into Quins territory.

Even though the T-Birds’ front row had a distinctly unfamiliar look to it, the power from the scrum was too much for Quins to handle and Thurrock began to get ball against the head.  Unfortunately the usually efficient lineout was not as good as usual, so the set piece was evened out.  Every time T-Birds moved the ball wide they looked like scoring, but the last pass always seemed to fail.  Finally the backs got clean fast ball and winger Lauren Kidd stripped the defence to go over the line for the first score of the game at 36 minutes so the teams went in at half time at 5-0.

With a Quin’s player in the bin just before half time for a dangerous tackle, T-Birds still had to defend resolutely despite the numerical advantage, but shortly before the player returned, scrum half Amy Radford, returning from injury and playing her first league game of the season, saw a gap down the inside of a ruck inside her own 22 and popped through the gap to run the length of the pitch and touch down under the posts.  The missed conversion left the score at 10-0 after 9 minutes of the second half..

For a few minutes Quins’ heads dropped and Thurrock ran riot again 5 minutes later, finding space for the other winger and seasons top try scorer Dannie Harris to go outside the defence and again touch down under the posts, the conversion this time bringing the score to 17-0.

At this point the crowd and team thought this game was won, the only question was how many more T-Birds would score, but it was not to be. The next 10 minutes was more evenly matched with Thurrock still looking the more likely to score, but the minor injuries began to stack up and slow players down and then T-Birds lost Dannie Harris to an ankle injury.  Apart from the 5 minutes after the second score, Quins had never let their heads drop and now they believed that they could score for pride, as the battered T-Birds lost pace.  Tackle after tackle denied Quins a try, until finally the Quins’ 10 Jayne Goodliffe slipped a tackle to go straight under the posts with the conversion bringing the score to 17-7 after 70 minutes.

With their tails now up, Quins pressed hard and despite desperate work from the meanest defence in the league, Jayne Goodliffe did it again in the last seconds of normal time to bring the score to 17-14.

The tired T-Birds dug in and never looked like conceding another try, but began to give away penalties, and finally after 8 minutes of injury time Jayne Goodliffe kicked the penalty from outside the 22 that leveled the score at 17 all.

Sunday Oct. 25th:

Rosslyn Park     0

T-Birds             44

Second on points difference after 2 games, the T-birds travelled to Roehampton Vale and one of the big names in Ladies’ Rugby , Rosslyn Park Slingbacks.   With a new look front row, this very young T-birds side arrived expecting the usual tough encounter.   Playing into a stiff breeze, the T-Birds received the kick and drove across halfway into Rosslyn Park territory, open-side Francesca Jordan picked up at the back of a ruck and scampered through a gaping hole in the defence and despite a desperate chase back, she was in under the posts in less than 3 minutes.  0-5.

Rosslyn then collected the restart and using 2 penalties to kick for position, advanced slowly into Thurrock territory and then camped in T-Birds’ 22 with only desperate scramble defence keeping them from crossing the try-line.  Eventually Thurrock turned over the ball and started their own drive, pushing Rosslyn Park back into their own half. Playing with real enterprise, the backs received quick ball from good rucking and found Dannie Harris in space on the right wing.  Park had no answer to her pace and she was over the line with little resistance.  16 minutes, 0-10.

Rosslyn Park now looked shell shocked and appeared to lose concentration and organisation for a few minutes and that was enough for Dannie Harris to receive the ball from a quick tap penalty and claim her second down the right wing.  22 minutes 0-15.  Rosslyn Park really dug in now, playing for pride on their home ground and aided by a series of penalties again applied real pressure on the T-Birds’ defence, with them kicking to relieve the pressure whenever they managed to win the ball.

As half time approached, Thurrock ’s pack began to show real dominance and the Rosslyn scrum began to show signs of crumbling under the pressure.  Running a good move from Outside Centre, Charlene West popped through a hole in the Park defence and scored with the last move of the half.  41 minutes, 0-20.

T-Birds came out for the second half charged up and expecting Park to put in a big 20 minutes but for a short while  heads dropped and holes appeared all over the park defence and tries from Charlotte Micaleff and Anitra Thomas and a conversion from Amy Bird pushed the score to 32-0 in 52 minutes.  T-Birds now used the bench and Park stiffened their resolve and the remainder of the game was far more even, however Thurrock still managed 2 more scores, one from Vice Captain Tammy Nichols and again from Dannie Harris claiming her hat trick.

Final score was 0-44, the bonus point putting T-Birds clear at the top of Championship SE 2.

Players of the match were Dannie “hat trick” Harris and Tammy Nichols.

Sunday Oct. 11th:

T-Birds          5

Aylesford      0

Having been let down at the last minute by the Referee’s Society this game only went ahead because Aylesford were able to bring their own ref with them.  Since Aylesford denied Thurrock promotion by a point back in the 06/07 season, an intense but reasonably friendly rivalry has existed between the two teams, for T-Birds, it’s an absolute “must win” game.

Preparation started in warm sunshine, but as kick off approached, the rain began to fall and ultimately ruined the game as a spectacle.

Aylesford kicked off and applied 5 minutes of real pressure, keeping T-Birds pinned back in their own half.  The first scrum was a mess and reset a couple of times before T-Birds were penalised for an early push, setting the pattern for the game.  Re-grouping immediately T-Birds’ aggressive defence pressurised the Aylesford attack ultimately turning over the ball.  Centre Sue Clive ran for space and found Full Back Sally Appleton out on the wing.  Taking the ball at pace, she stepped inside the winger, skinned the fullback and touched down under the posts for T-Birds in just 10 minutes for 5-0 lead.  Unfortunately the kick was missed narrowly, but the prospects for T-Birds seemed good.

Unfortunately the match then became probably the worst match for spectators that I have ever seen.  The slippery ball, constant injuries and an incredibly fussy ref contributed to a miserable display of rugby.  T-Birds were trying to play all the rugby, with Aylesford relying on kicking all their possession deep and hoping for a mistake. With T-Birds unable to extend their 5 point lead and knowing that a converted try would beat them, the tension grew as both sides pressed for the deciding score.

Every time T-Birds built some momentum and made ground they found themselves whistled back, usually for some infringement at the ruck. A decent sized and vociferous crowd repeatedly showed their dissatisfaction by roundly booing the ref.  It was a great relief for all concerned when the final whistle sounded.

Still, a win is a win and T-Birds remain unbeaten at the top of the league.
Back and Forward of the match: Full Back Sally Appleton and Prop Charlotte Micallef but there were great performances all round on a very difficult and frustrating day.

No game for the T-Birds next Sunday 18th when some of the team will be representing Essex Ladies, but the campaign continues away at Rosslyn Park on the 25th October and then Home again to Harlequins on 8th November.

On 28th October, the T-birds will continue their successful series of Open Training nights by inviting anyone interested in Ladies Rugby to Oakfield for a 7.30pm start.  

   

Sept 13th 09:

T-Birds 1        12

Hove                 0

The T-birds began the 2009-10 campaign at Oakfield on Sunday Sept 13^th with a friendly against Hove from the next division up.  With several young players making their debuts, this was probably the youngest T-birds side ever and with a number of players in new and unfamiliar positions there was some apprehension about how things would settle out.

Following their usual game plan, Ts attacked from the off, gradually driving Hove back towards their line.  Constant pressure and a poor clearance kick resulted in an 5 m attacking line out.  With a clean catch, Ts set up the maul and gradually rolled Hove back until Charlie Micallef peeled off the maul and crashed over near the corner for the first score after only 7 minutes.

Hove then displayed their higher league status and their pack gradually got on top in the scrum resulting in the referee constantly penalising Ts.   Unable to turn over any set piece possession and going backwards on their own ball, the new look Ts faced their first real test and passed with flying colours, constantly snuffing out attacks with good scramble defence.   Finally Hove were awarded a penalty, but trying for the corner, kicked into Touch in Goal and Ts used the resulting 22 drop out to clear their lines and finish the half 5-0 up.

With a re-jig of the scrum and the wind behind them, Ts started brightly and began to kick for position keeping Hove largely pinned in their own half.   In what became a very scrappy game, Ts constantly threatened, but the new set up and lack of game time was apparent as a number of chances were missed.  Hove competed well, particularly so in the scrum, but apart from one breakaway, never really looked like scoring.

With 15 minutes to go, Ts finally put a number of phases together, overloaded the Hove defence allowing winger Dannie Harris to go over in the corner and run back under the posts.  The resulting conversion gave a final score of 12-0.

Great Shelford visit Oakfield next Sunday for a friendly and a 3 pm KO.  

           

    

 

   

 

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© 2008